Cutting-edge assistance systems, a class-leading EV range and a fine interior give a mini-me S-Class feel
Walking out of our hotel in the heart of Vienna’s historic Petersplatz square, a fellow journalist and I head towards our press car for the day, the all-new, sixth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and attempt to open the door. The salient word here being ‘attempt’, because it’s only when the retractable door handles fail to deploy from their recessed cubbies that we realise we’re trying to jump inside a Mercedes S-Class support car.Mistaking one car for another is a rather embarrassing faux pas for an automotive journalist, but in our defence Mercedes has designed the new E-Class to resemble its big brother quite closely. More conservatively styled than its electric parallel, the Mercedes EQE saloon, it retains a classic ‘three-box’ design with a long bonnet, a large grille (two grille designs are offered in Europe with an optional illuminated surround), and a traditional selection of wheels depending on spec.The new E-Class is offered with mild-hybrid or plug-in power, and all models receive a nine-speed automatic transmission. Mild hybrids start with the 201bhp E200, which uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine boosted by a 23bhp electric motor. Then there is the perennial E220d (available with all-wheel drive), whose 2.0-litre diesel engine makes 195bhp.Perhaps the most exciting model, however, is the E300e plug-in hybrid. Thanks to a huge 24.1kWh battery, the rear-wheel-drive model (four-wheel drive is offered as an option) is said to cover up to 71 miles on a charge without the engine stirring, making it one of the most long-legged PHEVs on the market.With a fully charged battery, the E300e defaults to Electric mode, which is as smooth and quiet as you would expect. With just 154bhp powering over two tonnes of saloon, acceleration isn’t exactly sprightly, but there’s enough punch to deal with rush-hour traffic, and it can even accelerate up to 87mph on battery alone. This makes for a serene experience for passengers, with no engine noise or gearchanges to disturb the ambience.When the four-cylinder engine does kick in, the transition from electric power to petrol is hard to detect unless you’re giving it a bootful. This smooth handover, combined with well-suppressed wind and road noise, makes the E300e quite relaxing on the motorway. As does the level-four driver assistance tech: if the radar cruise control senses a slower car in front, it will activate the indicator, change lanes, perform the overtake and then slot you neatly back into the correct lane once the manoeuvre is complete. At first it feels wholly unnatural, but such is the smoothness of the system that you soon learn to trust it. It’s a shame the tech won’t make its way to Europe until some time next year.Speaking of kit we won’t be getting in the UK: air suspension isn’t on the options list. Instead, we will get steel spring suspension with adaptive damping. This might not seem like a big deal, but our air-equipped European press car exhibited impressive body control over dips and crests and took the sting out of potholes and raised ironwork. With the state of our roads in the UK, it seems something of an oversight not to offer such a set-up to British buyers. But on a more positive note, the E-Class handles gamely for such a big car. It may lean a bit in corners, but there is plenty of grip and the steering is precise. Our test car’s rear-wheel steering made it surprisingly nimble on switchback roads, but again, that’s an option that UK buyers will be denied. The only real weakness is a spongy brake pedal that can rob you of confidence on the way into a corner.Indeed, it certainly feels more wieldy than its predecessor, which is impressive when you consider that this latest-generation car has grown in every direction – an expansion that’s most noticeable when sitting in the rear. Thanks to an additional 2cm having been added to the wheelbase, rear-seat passengers have more room to stretch out on longer journeys. Passengers will also find themselves surrounded by a much more striking interior design. Sharing a number of its styling cues with the EQE, it has a glitz and glamour that’s normally associated with a Gulfstream jet. Ostentatious ambient lighting and materials abound, and it all feels pleasingly well screwed together.It almost goes without saying that the cabin is crammed with tech. The E-Class’s party piece is the MBUX Superscreen. Essentially a smaller version of the Mercedes EQS’s Hyperscreen, it features a single-panel display that houses the central infotainment screen and a separate passenger display. It’s a slick-looking set-up, but more importantly the in-house-developed MBUX infotainment software has taken a major step forward when it comes to connectivity and entertainment. Third-party apps such as TikTok can be used, and you can even take Zoom meetings with a high-definition camera mounted on the dashboard. We sampled the latter and it worked flawlessly.If you’re in the market for a luxurious executive saloon but aren’t quite ready to commit to a fully electric car, then we reckon the E300e is a compelling choice. Not only is it relaxing to drive, plenty quick enough and packed with tech but, because it has a class-leading pure-electric range, it’s also extremely frugal. On our spirited test drive, it returned a respectable 101mpg. Factor in a claimed 18g/km of CO2 and it should also make for a relatively cheap company car.Mercedes has yet to announce pricing, but expect the saloon to start from around £50,000 when it goes on sale later this year.
Source: Autocar
